Here’s why OnePlus 3 and 3T won’t get Android P Beta update

Google recently announced that Android P beta is no longer limited to the Pixel and Pixel 2 handsets. While the list of non-Google devices on board does include devices from OnePlus, there is no mention of the highly impressive duo of OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T.

The Chinese vendor confirmed that buyers of OnePlus 6 will be able to join the new Android P beta program as soon as they get their hands on the phone while those using last year’s OnePlus 5 and 5T will come on board later this year. Naturally, fans of OnePlus 3 and 3T are eager to know if and when they will be able to jump on board the new Android P ship – and they are asking questions all over.

Well, we have some answers for you, although not an official communication from OnePlus.

Why OnePlus 3 and 3T won’t get Android P update

Typically, Android devices are entitled to two major OS upgrades, at least based on what Google has been doing for years with the Nexus and Pixel devices. With this in mind, OnePlus 3 and 3T users shouldn’t expect any other OS upgrade.

The two devices come preinstalled with Android Marshmallow and have since received two OS upgrades in Android Nougat and Oreo. While some may argue that both devices have hardware that is capable enough to handle Android P (the same hardware as Google Pixel and Pixel XL), smartphone vendors will always argue from a resource perspective.

At a time when the company wants people’s attention to shift to the new OnePlus 6, it’s highly unlikely that directing resources towards keeping two-year-old phones up to date will be up on their list of priorities. In fact, it’s the company’s prayer that you ditch the 2016 OnePlus 3 or 3T in favor of the new OnePlus 6 and the sad reality is that they know keeping the older devices up to date might dissuade you from buying the new kid on the block.

Project Treble to the rescue, in future

Project Treble is here to help protect consumers against such types of vendors and while it’ll make it easier for devices to receive up to three major OS upgrades, the fact remains that OEMs will still be the determining factors. So, unless there is some serious commitment from smartphone vendors, Treble isn’t going to solve the fragmentation in Android.

Still, the fact that multiple non-Google devices are now running Android P beta is a sign that Treble could actually come to the rescue of consumers in future.

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